overhead view of the city of Brandon

Study reveals downtown Brandon is a ‘food desert’

Brandon food study reveals some have 
a long trip to grocery stores

Forty minutes in a car can take you from one town to the next in Westman, but that’s as long as some Brandonites spend riding the bus one way to go for groceries in the city. Lack of access to grocery stores is highlighted in a new report, called the Brandon Community Food Assessment, released

selling vegetables at a farmers market

Local food demand increasing the value of direct marketing

The Direct Farm Marketing Conference marks its 20th anniversary at its meeting in Brandon

Forget the stereotype of the elderly farmer selling some garden surplus or a few jars of homemade pickles at the Saturday morning farmers’ market. Vendors selling homegrown vegetables, preserves and meat today are just as likely to be their energetic and technically savvy grandkids — or at least their age. Their small businesses aren’t just


Ron Helwer
 1933 –

Agriculture Hall of Fame: Ron Helwer

Five new members of the Manitoba Agricultural Hall of Fame were inducted July 17 at a ceremony in Portage la Prairie. We're featuring a new inductee each week

Ron Helwer was born and raised at Libau, Manitoba. He married Vera Katazinski in 1956 and together they raised three children, Sherry, Reg and Gail. Ron began his business career in 1952 as a partner with his father Fred and brother Harvey in Libau where they operated a Massey Harris dealership. In 1956 they expanded

Colin Farquher has operated a steam engine at the Threshermen’s Reunion every year since 2008.  photo: meghan mast

Threshermen remember farming during wartime

First World War and Second World War changed the way we farm

Jim Down, 64, remembers hearing stories of the time his Uncle Art returned from the war to help with threshing on the farm. Down’s father, only five at the time, wore a small uniform, fashioned by his sisters, for the occasion. “We have pictures from the old photo albums of Uncle Art standing beside our

Man showing multilingual sign for community gardeners.

Seedy Saturday turns five

The fifth annual Seedy Saturday reflects growing interest in urban gardens

Brandon’s Central United Church on a Saturday morning is probably the last place you’d expect to find a bunch of seedy characters — yet, there they were. Organizer Blake Hamilton estimated that some 160 avid gardeners showed up to enjoy a free local-food breakfast, peruse the wide selection of heritage and heirloom seed varieties on


A four-year study will assess the effects of farmland being taken out of production.

Farmland loss study to begin in 2014

Study to include a look at subdivisions for growing population in southern Manitoba

Loss of farmland to subdivisions, strip malls and other non-agricultural uses is the focus of a cross-Canada research project getting underway this spring. The amount of productive farmland being lost is well documented, said Doug Ramsey, a professor in Brandon University’s department of rural development. He will partner with a research team across Canada for

Proponent of Brandon med school pans new report

Hopes for a medical school for Brandon were quashed last week with the release of a long-awaited study recommending undergraduate studies remain in Winnipeg with more medical residencies created in Brandon and other rural hospitals. The Brandon Medical Education Study in 2011 began studying options for training more doctors for rural and northern practice. The

Retirement looms for many rural self-employed

Statistics Canada analysis shows many lawyers, accountants and other key service 
providers will be at retirement age in next decade in rural Canada

The wave of retirements expected to roll across rural Canada in the next decade won’t just affect the farmers in your community. Rural and small-town Canada could have fewer lawyers, accountants, doctors and funeral directors too, according to a recent analysis of the ages of those self-employed outside bigger centres. About one in every four


MBP bursary winners for 2012

Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP) has announced bursaries of $500 each for children of Manitoba beef producers pursuing post-secondary studies related to agriculture and the rural economy. “MBP is proud to invest in these students and the future of agriculture in Manitoba,” said Ray Armbruster, MBP president. “We congratulate all of the winners and we wish

Loran Award winners

Becoming a Loran scholar will be a life-changing experience for two Grade 12 students enrolled in the Park West School Division — Carly Sotas of Birtle and Karl Chastko of Shoal Lake. “It’s so exciting to win the award. It is opening so many doors for myself, and I can’t wait to see what it